At Wild Ones, we’re dedicated to connecting people and native plants. Our Native Plant News blog delivers the latest stories on native plant conservation, scientific discoveries, and habitat restoration from across the nation. This monthly feature is designed to educate, engage, and inspire action—empowering readers to support biodiversity and promote sustainable landscaping with native flora.
Christmas from North Carolina
A Fraser fir was recently selected for the White House Christmas tree and is the 16th tree to come from North Carolina to the White House since 1971. Native to the Appalachian Mountains for North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is an evergreen conifer named after Scottish botanist John Fraser and is a popular tree for those choosing a real Christmas tree, garland, or wreath for their home. Growing up to 55 feet tall and 5 feet wide, tree farms and nurseries prune them early in their lives for the shape and branch density to produce the classic Christmas tree shape. Their
Growing best in full sun and well-drained, acidic soil on their native, mountainous range, Fraser firs have both male and female reproductive structures (e.g. monecious) so all trees produce cones. The scent that Fraser firs is the smell commonly associated with Christmas and is duplicated in candles and other fragrances.
Appalachian native’s scent brings Christmas to mind | Features | reflector.com
How to help the Monarch
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) populations have dropped dramatically since the 1990s which has prompted the US Fish & Wildlife Service this month to propose to list this species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This iconic species is well-recognized for its striking black and orange markings and well-known for its annual migration, flying from Canada to its overwintering sites in central Mexico’s mountains and coastal California.
There are many ways that you can help the monarch butterfly. The most important way is to plant native milkweed, the host plant that the caterpillars feed on, and other native plants that the adults need for nourishment. This can and should be done on any available land and even the smallest space makes a difference. Use plants native to your region which also supports other native pollinators and wildlife, improves water and soil quality, and contributes to the local ecosystem. Avoid tropical milkweed. Depending on your region and conditions, use instead swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata), or showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa). Asters (Asteraceae family), goldenrods (Asteraceae family), and blazing stars (Liatris spp.) are some of the other many native plants the monarch butterfly adults frequent.
For more information and ways to get involved, visit the United States Fish & Wildlife website: https://www.fws.gov/initiative/pollinators/monarchs/help
Monarch Butterfly Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
California: Rush to Save the Sky Islands
The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument encompassing 627,000 acres of land near Joshua Tree National Park, may be the last hope for the Orocopia sage (Salvia greatae) and Munz’s cholla (Cylindropuntia munzii). Residing in “sky islands”, mountains surrounded by desert “seas”, these plant species were isolated, leading to specific adaptations and contributing to the unique plants in this region. Important to the area’s biodiversity providing habitat to wildlife and an important carbon sequester, these two species are only found in this region. Losing either of these species would cause a ripple effect in the region, starting with the soil and affecting the overall ecosystem.
The Orocopia sage, named for the mountain range in which it’s found, is disappearing from lower and mid-altitudes, due to increasing aridness due to climate change. The Orocopia sage has no federal or state endangered status, relying instead on protection from the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan that relies on voluntary participation from private landowners. The Munz’ cholla is listed as vulnerable due to potential habitat loss. This species is the largest cactus endemic to California and provides nesting habitat and hosts a diversity of pollinators.
Overdevelopment, including lithium mining, is a cause for concern for these species. The California Wilderness Coalition and the Mojave Desert Land Trust began organizing protection of this region in 2016 and the proposed area would extend south from Joshua Tree National Park from the Coachella Valley to near the Colorado River. United States Representative Raul Ruiz and Senator Laphonza Butler have introduced legislation to make this region a monument and increase Joshua Tree National Park to connect these areas, urging President Biden to utilize the Antiquities Act to proclaim the area a National Monument. This movement is also supported by Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan and Serrano tribes native to the region.
The uncertain future for Calif. plants only found in one spot | SF Gate
Wisconsin: Who Will Stop the Rain?
Madison, Wisconsin, has been seeing an increase in rain, contributing to flash flooding events where heavy rains occur so quickly that the city’s sewer system can’t keep up with the stormwater flow. To help with this problem, the city of Madison is helping its residents install rain gardens.
A rain garden is a shallow depression filled with native plants that temporarily hold the water from storms and rainwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and lawns while it absorbs into the ground. This keeps the water off the streets and out of the sewers as well as prevents pollution from water coming from streets, exposed to heavy metals, sand, tire and brake dust, and other contaminants. Rain gardens have other benefits as well, as the native plants provide food and habitat for wildlife. These gardens, with deep native plant roots, increase ground absorption by up to 30%, reduce standing water and prevent mosquito breeding grounds.
The City of Madison offers technical and financial assistance to homeowners. Madison residents chip in $100 and the city covers the rest: building, planting, and then giving the homeowner information on how to maintain the rain garden. Homeowners can also attend workshops and outreach events about how to install a rain garden themselves.
Mississippi: Creating the Supply for the Demand
Creating living shorelines as a way to conserve and restore coastal wetlands is gaining in popularity. These living shorelines use native plants and their extensive root system to halt erosion and return shorelines to their natural state. These grasses are planted 2-4 plants per square foot and one project can take thousands of plants. The demand is increasing as well: in 2019, there were 9 requests for living shoreline assessment assistance, 20 requests in 2020, and 84 requests by November. Unfortunately, there often aren’t enough locally sourced native plants to meet the growing demand.
To combat this problem, the Mississippi State University Extension Service organized the Native Plant Producer Network (NPPN) to enlist people to grow and sell native plants. NPPN participants, which are 4 homeowners and 7 schools so far, are growing black needle rush (Juncus roemerianus) and smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), the two common species found on the coastlines.
Cher Griffin’s Aquaculture 1 and 2 classes at Ocean Springs High School are growing cordgrass. “We have two large plant troughs holding our marsh plants. These plant troughs are housed in two different greenhouses, which also contain our fish, We have set up a small experiment in which each trough is receiving different nutrient sources. One is receiving fertilizer and the other fish water. The students are monitoring growth through measuring height and density,” Griffin said.
“Growing these plants can be challenging,” Kaitlyn Mitchell, an Extension association with Mississippi State University, said. “You have to have permits to collect the seeds, and then you have to have the space and water to care for them. Our certification also allows us to sell these plants to contractors for installation.”
Native Plant Producer Network aids shorelines | Mississippi State University Extension Service
Idaho: Having a Change of Heart
The yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) may sound lovely but like most invasive species, is more insidious than its name implies. This aquatic weed, native to the Mediterranean and Eurasia, negatively impacts the ecology in which it’s being found.
The yellow floating heart is named after the large, heart-shaped leaves that float on the water surface. The shiny leaves are 2-6 inches across and 2-5 yellow flowers are arranged in clusters. This invasive non-native species spreads very easily either by seed that is transported by waterfowl, by rhizomes, or by broken pieces of plant that float away to new places. This plant is a popular water garden plant, despite it’s invasive status, and can still be bought in some areas.
To manage this plant, prevent its introduction by cleaning watercraft before transport and never dumping aquarium contents into water bodies. For small infestations, these plants can also be hand-pulled, but all of the plant needs to be removed. The waxy layer of the plant’s leaves makes chemical eradication very difficult and contacting local authorities for chemical control options is advised.
War on Weeds: Yellow floating heart | Farm & Ranch | postregister.com
It Must Have Been the Mistletoe
Commonly known for being a Christmas decoration for those looking for a holiday kiss to stand under, mistletoe is an evergreen, parasitic plant that survives only on the branches of trees and shrubs. Worldwide, there are 1,300 species of mistletoe; 28 of which are native to North America. Twelve species live in the southern half of the United States and live on deciduous trees in the East and evergreens in the West. Sixteen species are leafless dwarf mistletoes that only live on pine species (Pinaceae) along the West Coast.
The American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is the species used for Christmas decoration in the United States. This species is able to photosynthesize nutrients but also take water and other nutrients from its host plant by sending root-like structures (haustoria) into the host’s vascular tissue. Even if the plant is removed, the haustoria can remain in the host plant.
Mistletoes have male and female plants (dioecious): the females produce the berries, which birds eat and distribute. The seeds have a sticky substance that helps them attach to trees until they germinate. Unless heavily infested, mistletoe doesn’t usually kill the trees and shrubs that they parasitize and in those cases, it’s only a stressor of which disease or pests take advantage. Because of this, it’s not necessary to control mistletoe and it is difficult to eradicate.
Beyond it’s Christmas popularity, mistletoe is associated with life and fertility, serves as a peace offering, and protects against poison. It is also Oklahoma’s state floral emblem.
Gina Bartleson is a member of the Wild Ones Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Area (IA) Chapter.